Press Review

“Zhamanak” carries a scathing editorial on the European Parliament’s latest resolution on the South Caucasus, accusing this and other EU institutions of approaching the region “from the haughty position of a judge.” “As far as Armenia is concerned, they are taking no steps to give meaningful assistance to the civic fight for Armenia’s fundamental issues, reforms and democratization,” claims the pro-opposition daily.

“Haykakan Zhamanak” comments on the controversy surrounding government-drafted amendments in an Armenian law regulating broadcasting. “A large part of Armenian TV companies are not TV companies in the understandable sense of the word, but simply carry out a government order to occupy broadcasting frequencies,” says the paper. It claims that many of them were set up with the specific aim of preventing the A1+ TV channel’s return to the air. “By using such a trick, the authorities have occupied 22 TV frequencies. Many of the individuals who got hold of those frequencies had neither the desire, nor the capacity to have a TV company,” it says.

Opposition leader Stepan Demirchian is asked by “Chorrord Inknishkhanutyun” whether she shares the view that bitter government infighting is the only way of effecting leadership change in Armenia. “The thing is that the policy pursued [by the authorities] is destroying the country,” he says. “But we must not pin hopes on intra-government disagreements. They may exist on one day and disappear on another. We should rely on our forces and people. Of course, I also understand people’s disappointment. The society sees that for many years governments have not been changed as a result of elections.”

Demirchian makes clear that the Armenian National Congress, of which he is a leading member, will continue to fight with “solely political methods.” “This is the way to go,” he says. “We don’t need coups.”

“Hraparak” comments on lavish graduation ceremonies that will be held in schools across Armenia. The paper complains that the once joyful holiday of Armenians entering adulthood is increasingly becoming “a race of money and luxury.” “Not only teachers and schools, as some claim, but we all, the society, are to blame for this,” it says, adding that the youths are simply mimicking older citizens.